Nonremovable receptacle cap



t 9 E. A. COR BIN, JR

NONREMOVABLE REQEPTACLE CAP Filed Feb 2O 1933 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 23, 1934,

UNITED STATES NONREMOVABLE RECEPTACLE CAP Elbert A. Corbin, Jr., Gradyville, Pa., assignor of one-half to William C. Biddle, Lansdowne,

Application February 20, 1933,. Serial No. 657,566

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful nonremovable cap for receptacles which is adapted when applied to the nozzle or outlet of the receptacle, to serve as a dispenser of the contents 5 of the receptacle and to prevent the drying up of the contents of the receptacle in the nozzle or outlet thereof.

Taking, for instance, the standard collapsible tubes used for holding and dispensing creams and pastes, such as tooth paste, shaving cream, cold cream, etc., it will be noted that such collapsible tubes are at present formed with a threaded nozzle over which fits a threaded cap which must be removed before the contents of the tube can be squeezed out through the nozzle.

In addition to the fact that such caps are often misplaced and lost or fall into the drain outlet of a sink or wash-stand, it must be remembered that a part of the paste contained in the tube occupies the outer portion of the nozzle of the tube and hardens so as to become unfit for use and to render the squeezing of subsequent portions of the contents of the tube rather diflicult and wasteful. v

A further object of my invention is to produce a nonremovable cap which also embodies a selfcleaning nozzle or dispenser and which when closed presents a distinctly different appearance than that which it presents when it is opened,- so as to apprise the user of the fact that the receptacle is not closed.

A further object of my invention is to produce a nonremovable cap embodying the advantages aforesaid and which will also be extremely simple to manufacture and assemble and which at the same time will possess positive engagement with the neck or nozzle of the receptacle to which it is applied to insure against accidental, unintentional removal.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists of a substantially conical plug applied to the nozzle or other outlet of an externally threaded receptacle, an internally threaded cap adapted to engage said nozzle and. having a conical seat adapted to engage said conical plug, there being an opening in the upper end of said cap through which the end of said plug may project, and a split ring positionedin a groove at the base of said cap, said ring being adapted to engage the lowermost thread on said nozzle to prevent the unscrewing of the cap after the same has been screwed on to the nozzle in the process of assembly.

My invention further consists of various other novel features of construction and advantage,

all as hereinafter described and claimed in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating a collapsible tube provided with a nonremovable cap embodying my invention, this view being taken substantially on line ll of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section on lin 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in which like reference characters indicate like parts, 1 is any desired receptacle, such as a collapsible tube of the ordinary variety used for holding tooth paste, shaving cream, or the like, said receptacle or tube having the neck or nozzle portion 2 which is externally threaded as at 3. At the upper end of the neck 2 is the bridge or yoke portion 4 which carries, or has formed integral therewith, the plug 5 having the conical external surface 6. I designates an internally threaded cap adapted to engage the threads 3 on the nozzle 2 in the usual manner. The cap '7 is provided with the upper conical portion 8 which has the inner conical surface 9 and which is provided with the upper opening 10. In the bottom 85 of the cap 7 is provided the annular groove 11 in which is seated the split ring 12. The split ring 12 is positioned in the groove 11 after the cap '1 has been applied to the nozzle 2 of the receptacle by collapsing the ring into a diameter slightly smaller than the bottom opening 13 of the cap '7 and is pushed upwardly until the groove 11 is reached, whereupon the ring expands in the groove and permanently locks the cap 7 in position with respect to the nozzle 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the cap '7 is threaded completely down over the nozzle' 2 the conical surface 9 thereof rests against the conical surface 6 of the plug 5 and the split ring 12 is disposed below the lowermost thread on the outside of the nozzle 2, as seen in Fig. 1. In Fig. 4 the device is shown in the open position, that is with the cap 7 partly unscrewed with respect to the nozzle 2, the complete unscrewing or 05 removal of the cap '7 from the nozzle -2 being prevented by the split ring 12 engaging the lowermost of the threads 3 on the outside of the nozzle 2. When the cap is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the conical surface 9 thereof is spaced from the conical surface of the plug 5 and the contents of the tube, if the same be a paste, passes out in a cylindrical ribbon 15, as shown. When enough paste or other substance has been exuded, the cap 7 is turned in a clock-wise direction and it assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. The bringing down of the cap '7 on the plug 5 forces any material 15 that may be in the passage 16 downwardly back into the neck 2 of the tube or receptacle and the plug 5 emerges above the level of the opening 10 in a clean condition, so that there is no waste by way of drippage or otherwise. The fit between the conical surfaces 9 and 6 is very close and prevents the accumulation therebetween of any of the substance 15 in the receptacle 1 and furthermore provides a practically air tight joint to prevent the drying up of the material 15 in the neck 2. Furthermore, the protrusion of the top of the plug above the level of the opening 10 in the cap '7 indicates to the user that the mouth of the tube or receptacle is tightly and properly closed. The upper end of the neck 2 is preferably rounded as at 17 to facilitate the return of the material found in the passage 16 when the cap 7 is screwed down back onto the neck 2 and the cap 7 is preferably provided with the cylindrical portion 18 which has the tight fit on the corresponding cylindrical portion 19 of the neck to prevent the passage of any of the material contained in the neck of the tube under the plug 5 from reaching the threads of the neck and cap.

While I have illustrated my nonremovable cap as applied to a collapsible tube dispensing creams, ointments, paste, and similar relatively viscous substances, it is to be understood that my novel construction is equally applicable to receptacles containing fluids, the necessary liquid tight character of the connection being easily accomplished either through machining of the contacting surfaces 6 and 9 and 18 and 19 or by the employment of suitable washers or gaskets therebetween without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a receptacle having an externally threaded nozzle, of a plug carried by said nozzle, an apertured cap adapted threadunthreading of said cap with respect to said nozzle producing a passage therebetween communicating with the aperture in said cap for the discharge of the contents of said receptacle through said passage and said aperture.

2. The combination with a receptacle having an externally threaded nozzle, of a plug carried by said nozzle, an apertured cap adapted threadedly to engage said nozzle and having an internal seat to fit over said plug, and a split ring positioned in a groove in the bottom of said cap and adapted to engage the thread on said nozzle to limit the unthreading of said cap with respect to said nozzle, the unthreading of said cap with respect to said nozzle producing a passage therebetween communicating with the aperture in said cap for the discharge of the contents of said receptacle through said passage and said aperture.

3. The combination with-a receptacle having an externally threaded nozzle, of a plug carried by said nozzle, 8. cap adapted threadedly to engage said nozzle and having an internal seat adapted to fit over said plug, and a split ring positioned in a groove in the bottom of said cap and adapted to engage the thread on said nozzle to limit the unthreading or said cap with respect to said nozzle, the unthreading of said cap with respect to said nozzle producinga passage therebetween, there being an opening at the top of said cap through which said plug is adapted to project when said cap is completely threaded on said nozzle, said opening cooperating with said passage for the discharge of the contents of said receptacle when said cap is partially unthreaded irom said nozzle.

4. The combination with a receptacle having an externally threaded nozzle, of a plug carried by said nozzle, an apertured cap adapted threadedly to engage said nozzle and having an internal seat adapted to fit over said plug, a split ring positioned in a groove in the bottom of said cap adapted to engage the lowermost thread on said nozzle to prevent complete unthreading and to permit partial unthreading of said cap with respect to said nozzle, the unthreading of said cap with respect to said nozzle producing a passage therebetween communicating with the aperture in said cap for the discharge of the contents of said receptacle through said passageand said opening, and sealing means for preventing the egress of said contents out between the external threads of said nozzle and the internal threads of said cap.

ELBERT A. CORBIN, JR. 

